JANUARY TRAVEL N FUN COLUMN
December 10th, the Club met at the Lodge for its annual Christmas Dinner and an evening of community and dance. Jerry and his staff prepared a succulent meal of salmon and stuffed pork chops (and oh, that cheesecake!).
Marcela Peterson drew tickets for the door prizes – poinsettias and an arrangement made by Joyce Cordova – except she kept drawing blue. A special holiday thanks to our hosts, Ben and Marcella, Al and Bea Sande, and Joyce for a wonderful evening and great end to the year.
The Valentine Brunch will return to the Cloverleaf Tavern, February 13 at 10 am. The price is still being negotiated. Hosts are the Bellings and Schmittlers. We will have a sign-up sheet at the January meeting, but if you cannot attend then, call Stephanie at 360 792-0472 for reservations.
Travel N Fun provided three baskets to the Ladies of Elks’ auction prepared by Juanita Spong, Cindy Varsafsky, Judy Gertsch, Stephanie, Sherie Lewis and Chris Blankenship. Congratulations to the Ladies for their success in another great auction.
We have hosts for several 2005 outings. The Schmittlers, Josephsons and Goulds will host the Westport (and crab race) outing at American Sunset, April 14 – 17; Brooks, Sandes and Davis Puyallup Elks, May 19 – 22 (Peggy is talking casino night.); Gary and Sherie Lewis Port Townsend Elks, June 16 – 19; Merle Lewis and Lorene Brannan Northwest Elks Rally, Jefferson County Fairgrounds, July 14 – 17; the Officers Rest-a-While Hoodsport, October 13 – 16.
Hosts are required for: Bremerton Elks Park, March 17 – 20; Hoquim RV Park, August 18 – 21; Rochester’s Outback RV Park, September 15 – 18; Thanksgiving dinner meeting, Sons of Norway, November 14; and Christmas dinner at the Lodge, December 9. If you are interested in hosting, call Gary or Chris at 360 373-6416.
A club such as ours runs on volunteers; and several have stepped forward to assist President Sherie during the next year: Bill Green will chair Hamburgers on the Patio (We normally cook in May and September.), the Spongs will continue Badges and Patches, Judy Gertsch will be Sunshine (assisted by Gary Blankenship when she is out of the area). Call Judy at 360 895-2304 to report Sunshine needs.
We still need a chair for raffle sales and a historian. Darrell Schmittler and Al Sande are building the 2005 swing scheduled to raffled at the Lodge’s Family Picnic.
There is no Sunshine to report. Thanks, Cindy, for your 2004 reports. And thanks to all the officers, committee chairs and hosts who served the Club during the past year.
Juanita is organizing a Red Hat RV Club. If you are interested, call her at 360 895-8797.
The next general meeting is Monday, January 10th, 7 pm, at the lodge. We gather between 5 and 7 for meet and greet.
Have a great year and may global warming continue in our little corner of the world.
If you have any questions, news or comments about this column, call 373-6416 or email garydawg@msn.com.
Gary Blankenship
